Ex parte Jennings , 6 Cow. 518 ( 1826 )

Sutherland., J.

intimated when the attorney general first moved, that there could be no objection to change the peremptory mandamus into an alternative one, if this alone was requested. The court, at the last term, understood the counsel for the appraisers as saying explicitly, that nothing farther was desired than the opinion of the court on the case, as it then stood; which would be acquiesced in by the appraisers. Otherwise, the course would have been to grant an alternative mandamus.

After the argument was dosed ; and the court had taken several days for advisement,

Savage, Ch. J. remarked, that the main question made at the last term related to the extent of the boundary. The court were then of the opinion, that it carried the land to the centre of the stream. Nothing which had fallen from the attorney general on the re-argument, had changed their opinion upon this point. Objections, that a mandamus will not lie ; and that the relators do not make out their case, are now started ; but w7e adhere to the opinion, that the case is one to which the remedy by mandamus is applicable; and that the case is sufficiently made out in evidence. We understand the appraisers refused to act because they thought the bed of the Chiitenwgo belong-e(j lo tjje state j that they therefore ha4 no jurisdiction, private property not being invaded. We held otherwise; that private property has been invaded ; that they have jurisdiction ; and should go on and appraise. To what particular individuals the property may belong, is a questioa for them to decide.

It is, however, suggested, that the question is an important one, on account of the amount oí the property involved in it; and that it should be put in such a shape as to be reviewed on error, should the state desire this. We think the suggestion perfectly right; and with a view to that object, we direct the former rule and subsequent proceedings to be vacated, and that an alternative mandamus issue. This will enable the appraisers to put the facts on record by a return, if they shall be so advised; and the judgment to be rendered oil that return may be reviewed.

Rule accordingly, ^(a)

(a) The treatise of sir Mai/hew Hate, De Jure Maris, ha3 been so often re cftgnized in this country, and in England, that it has become the text book, from which, when properly understood, there seems to be no appeal either by sovereign or subject, upon any question relating to their respective rights, either in the sea, arms of the sea, or private streams of water» (Vid. Palmer v. Mulligan, 3 Cain. Hep. 307. id. 315, per Thompson, J. id 318, per Kent, C. J. People v. Platt, 17 John. 195, 209, 210. Hooker v. Cummings, 20 John. 90, 99, to 101. Adams v Pease, 2 Con. Rep. N. S. 481, 483, 484. Arnold v. Mundy. 1 Halst. Rep 1, 74. Claremont v. Carlton, 2 N. H. Rep. 369, 371. Haye's Exr v. Bouman, 1 Randolph's Rep. 417. 420.) In England, even on rights of prerogative, the courts scr«n his words with as much care as if they had been found in Magna Chorta ; and the meaning once ascertained, they do not trouble themselves to search any farther, (Vid. The King v. Lord Yarborough, 3 Barnw. & Creswell. 91.) They almost justify, in respect to his writings the extravagant encomium which Mr. H irt has passed upon him as a judge ; that,“with a mind beaming the effulgence of noon-day, he sat on the bench like a descended god I” (2 Burr. Tr. by Rob. 67.) His work is go often quoted, his doctrines are so lull, his distinctions so cl< ar, and his illustrations so striking and apposite, that they seem to deserve an insertion in our books, somewhat more at length than they are to be found in the quotations of counsel or judges ; especially as there is, (I believe,) no late edition of the work ; and, to moay of the profession, it is cot, therefore, readily accessible. It was first published by the learned Pra* Hargrave among various ether titles; and is usually cited as Harg, Law .Tracts. The only title material to our purpose,44 De jure maris ei b* ackiorum tjus-demj' is the first part of a manuscript treatise in three pans, by Lord Ch. Justice Hale; and is therefore, sometimes cited as Hale, Dejure, &c. This first part is divided into seven chapters of about 44 small octavo pa-jes in the whole. The course I propose in this note, is to give the mere text of 4 chapters in this first part, verbatim, generally omitting the author’s quotations ; which are mostly of MSS, or of old treatises, entries and reports ; all of which are, quoad hoc, superseded by the high authority of Hale. Instead of «hese, I will insert such late authorities, especially American, as have passed upon the very position laid down by him.

PARS PRIVJA.

De Jure Maris ci Bracfiiorum ejusdem,

CAP I.

Concerning the interest of fresh rivers.

Fresh rivers, of what kind soever, do, of common right, belong to the owners of the soil adjacent ; so that the owners of the one side have, of common right, the, propriety of the soil; and consequently the right of fishing, usque filam aquaz; and the owners of the other sale, the right of soil or ownership, and fishing unto the jilum aquae on their side. And, if a mau be owner of the land of both sides, in common presumption, he is owner of the whole river ; and hath the ngh of filling according to the extent of his land in length. With this agrees the common experience, [Palmer v. Mulligan, &c. and other cases cited above at the beginning of this note.]

But special usage may aber that common presumption; for one man may have the river, and others the soil adjacent; or one man may have the river and soil thereof; and another the free or several fishing in that river.

If a fresh river, between the lands of two lords or owners, do insensibly gain on one side, or the other side ; it Í9 held that the propriety continues as before in the river. [What shall be deemed insensible gain. The King v. Ld. Yarborough, cited ante, in this note ] But if it be done sensibly and suddenly, then the ownership of the soil remains according to the former bounds. As if the river running between the lands of A and B, leaves his course; and sensibly mak’-.s his channel entirely in the lands of A; the whole river belongs to A. Aqua cedit solo. And so it is, though if the alteration be by insensble degrees, but there be other known boundaries, as stakes or extent of land. 22 Ass. pi. 93. And though the book make a question, whether it hold the same law in the case of the sea or the arms of it; yet certainly the law will be all one, as we shall have occasion to shew in the ensuing discourse.

But yetspecial custom may alter the casein great rivers. For instance the river of Severn» which is a wild river ; yet, by the common custom, used below Gloucester bridge, it is the common boundary of the manors of either side, what course soever the river takes; viz. the jilum aquae is the common mark or boundary ; though it borrow great quantities ef land, sometimes of the one side, sometimes of the other ; and gives them to the opposite shore.

Though fresh rivers are, in point of propriety, as before, prima facie, of a pvivaie interest; yet. as well fresh rivers as salt, or such as flow and reflow, may be under these two servitudes, or affected by them : viz. one of prerogative belonging to the king, and another of public interest, or belonging to (he people in general.

Qf these in the ensuing chapters.

CAP H.

Of the right of prerogative in private or fresh rivers.

The king by an ancient right of prerogative, hath had a certain interest in many fresh rivers, even where the sea doth not flow or reflow, as well as in salt or arms of the sea ; and those are these which follow :

1st. A right of franchise or privilege* that no man may set up a com» mon ferry tor all passengers, without a prescription time out of mind, or a charter from the King. He [the owner] may make a ferry for his own use or the use of his family ; but not for the common use of all the King’s subjects -assing that way ; because it doth, in consequent, tend to a common «harge ; and is become a thing of public interest and use, and every man for his passage pays a toll, which is a common charge, and every ferry ought to be under a publ.c regulation ; viz. that it give attendance at due times, keep a boat in due order, and take but reasonable toll ; for if be [the ferryman] fail in these he is finable. And hence it is, that jfa common bridge be broken, whereby there is no passage, but by a boat or ferry; it hath been anciently practised in the exchequer, to compel that ferryman, that ferries over people for profit, without a charter from the King or a lawful prescription, to account for the benefit above hie reasonable pains and charge.

And this that is said in reference to a fresh or private river, holds place much more in a public river or arm of the sea ; and therefore it need not be repeated when we come to that subject.

2ndty. An interest, as I may call it, of pleasure or recreation [Inapplicable to the U States; and obselete in England* as ^ale says.]

3d An interest of ju>is’hction ; viz. in reference to common nuisances in or by rivers ; as where the sewers were not kept, which gave rise to the commission of sewers, as well for fresh ivers as for salt

And another part of the King’s jurisdiction in reformation of nuisances is, to reform and punish nuisances in all rivers, whether fresh or salt, that are a common passage, not only for ships and grea er vessels, but also for smaller, as barges or boats; to reform the obstructions or annoyances that are therein to such common passage : for, as the common highways on the land are for the common land passage, so these kind of rivers, whether fresh or salt, that bear boats or barges, are highways by water; and as the highways by land are called altee vice regice, so these public rivers for public passage are called flnvii regales, and haul slreames le Roy ; not in reference to the propriety of the river, but to the public use ; nil things o ¿uiblic safety and convenience being in a special manner under the King's care, supervision and protection And therefore the report in sir John Davycs, of the piscary of Ban, mistakes the reason of those books, that call the-e st<eamesle Roy. as if they were so called in respect to propriety,as 19 Ass. &.Dy. 11. For they are called so because they a>e of public use, and under the King’s special care and protection, whether the soil be hiS or not

And this leads me to the third chapter,

CAP- III.

Concerning public streams.

There he some streams or rivers, that are private, not only in propriety or ownership ; but also iu use. as little streams and rivers that aré not a common passage for the Kings people Again ; there be other rivers, as well fre-h as salt, that are of common or public use, for carriage of boats and lighters. And these whether they are fresh or salt, whether they flow and re-flow or not, are prima facie pubVci juris, common highways for man or goods, or both, from one inland town io another. Thus the rivers of IVey of Severn, of Thames and divers others, as well above the bridges and ports as below ; as well above the flowings of the sea as below, and as well where they have come to be of private propriety, as in what part they are of the King’s propriety, are public rivers juris pubUci. And therefore all nuisances and impediments of passages of boats and vessel«, though in the private soil of any person, may be punished by indictments, and <emoved ; and this was the reason of the statute of Magna Charla, cap 23

Omnes kidelli deponanlur per Thamifam el Medway am, el per toiam Angliam nisi per cosleram mans.

These kinds of nuisances were such as himleied or obstructed the passage of boats, as wears, piles, choaking up of the passage with filth, diverting of the water by eutts or trenches, decay of the banks, or the like.

And they were reformed.

Sometimes by indictments or presentments in the leets, sessions of the peace, oyer and terminer, or before justices of assize.

Often times iu the king’s bench ; as Hil. 50 E. 3. B. R, Rot. 23. for nuisances in the river Tent; H. 23. E. 3. B. R. Rot. 61. in the river Ouse; H. 21. E. 1. in the river Severn; Tr. 28 E. 3 Rot 29. in the river Leigh ; and generally in all other rivers within the bodies of counties, which had common passage of boats or barges, whether the water were fresh or salt; the king’s or a subject’s.

Sometimes by special commission, as for the river of Leigh.

And sometimes by the parties that were prejudiced by such nuisance, without any process of law.

But if any person at his own charge, makes his own private stream to be passable for boa is or barges either by making of locks or eutts, or drawing together other streams : and hereby that river, which was his own in point of propriety become now capable of carriage of vessels ; yet this seems not to make.il pubhci ; and he may pull it down again, or apply it to his own private use. Fo¡ itisnoi hereby mule to be juris publici. unless it were done at a common charge, or by u public authority : or that by long continuance of time it hath been freely devoed to a publick use. And so it seems also to be, if he that makes such a new river or passage doth it by way of recompence or compensa'ion for some other public stream that he hath stopped for his own couveniency ; as in the case of the Abbott of St Austens, Cttwtrbury mentioned in the Register. So likewise, if he pur-chaseth the king’s charter to take a reasonable toll for the passage of the king’s subjects, and puls it in ure ; these seem to be devoting, and, as it were consecrating of it to the common use. As he that by an ad quad amnwn, and licence thereupon obtained, changeth a way, and sets out another in his own land ; this new way is thereupon become juris publici as well as a way by prescription. For no man can take a settled or constant toll even in his own private land, for a common passage, without the king’s licence.

CAP. IV.

Concerning the king's interest in salt waters, the sea and its arms, and the soil'hereof; arid first of the right of fishing ther*.

Thus much concerning fresh waters or inland rivers, which, though they empty themselves mediately into the sea, are not called arms of the sea, either in respect of the distance or smallness of them.

We come now to consider the sea and its arms : and first, concerning the sea itself.

The sea is that which lies within the body of a county or without. That arm or branch of the sea, which ties Within the fauces terree* where a man may reasonably discerne between shore and shore, is, or at least, may be within the body of a county ; and, therefore, within the jurisdiction the sheriff or coroner.

The part of the sea which lies not within the body of a county, is called the main sea or ocean.

The narrow sea, adjoining to the coast of England, is part of the wast and demesnes and dominions of the King of England, whether it lie within the body of any county or not.

The k ng’s right of propriety or ownership in the sea and soil thereof, is evidenced principally in these things that follow.

1st. The right of fishing in this sea, and the creeks and armes thereof, is originally lodged in the crown, as the right of depasturing is originally lodged in the owner of the wast whereof he is lord, or as the right of fishing belongs to him that is the owner of a private or inland river.

But though the king is the owner of this great wast, and as a consequent of his propriety, hath the primary right of fishing in the sea and the creekesnnd arms thereof; yet the common people of England have regularly a liberty of fishing in the sea or creekes or armes thereof, as a public common of piscary ; and may not, without injury to their right, be restrained of it; unless in such places, creeks or navigable rivers, where either the king or some particular subject, hath gained a propriety exclusive of that common liberty.

lid. The next evidence of the king’s right and propriety in the sea, and the arms thereof, is his right ot propriety to

The shore ; and

The Marítima Incrementa.

(1.) The shore is that ground that is between the ordinary high water and low water mark. This doth prima facie and of common right belong to the king, both in the shore of the sea, and the shore of the arms of the sea.

And herein there shall be these things examinable,

1st. What shall be said the shore, or litlus maris.

2d. What shall be said an arm or creek of the sea.

3d. What evidence there is o the king’s propriety thereof.

1. For the first of these ; it is certain, that that which the sea overfiow&> either at high spring tides, or at extraordinary tides,comes not,as to this purpose, uuder the denomination of litlus maris ; and consequently, the king's title is not of that large extent; but only to land that is usually overflowed at ordinary tides. That, therefore, I call the shore, that is between the common high water and low water mark.

2. For the second ; that is called an arm of the sea where the sea flows and reflows ; and so far only as the sea flows and reflows; so that the river of Thames, above Kingston, and the river of Severn, above Teu'kesbU’ ry, &c. though there they are publick rivers, yet are not arms of the sea. But it seems that although the water be fresh at high water, yet the denomination of an arm of the sea continues, if it flow and reflow a9 m Thames, above the bridge. [Doug. 444.]

3. For the third ; it is admitted that de jure communi between the high water and low water mark doth prima facie belong to the king, 5 Rep, 307. Constable's case» Dy. 326. Although it is true, that such shore maybe, and commonly is parcel of the manor adjacent, and so may be belonging to a subject, as shall be shewn, yet prima facie it is the king's.

And as the shore of the sea doth prima facie belong to the king, viz. be» tween the ordinary high water and low water mark, so the shore of an arm of the sea between the high water and low water mark, belongs prima fa~ cie to the king, though it may also belong to a subject, as shall be shewn in the next chapter. [He mentions here two cases, of a number of houses claimed by or in right of the king; in which it was adjudged that the claim was good because they were built between high and low water mark, where the tide flowed and reflowed ; the one case arising upon the river Tyne, the other upon the Thames,]

And this shall suffice for the king’s right in the shore of the sea, or rivers that are arms of the sea, v;z. the land lying between the high water and the low water mark at ordinary tides.

(2.) The king hath a title to maratima incrementa, or increase of land joy the sea; and this is of three k;nds, viz. 1. Increase per projectionerft vti alluvionem. 2. Increase per felietionem vel dtsertionem. 3. Per insuloe' productionem,

1. The increase per alluvionem is, when the sea, by casting up sand and earth, doth by degrees increase the land, and shut itself out further than the ancient bounds went ; and this is usual. The reason why this belongs to the crown is, because in truth the soil, where there is now dry land/ Was formerly pari, of the very fundus marts ; an 1 consequently belonged to the king;. But indeed if such alluvion be s>' insensible, that it cannot be by any means found that the sea was there, idem est non esse et non op-parere; the land Ihus increased belongs, as a perquisite, to the owner of the land adjacent.

2. The increase per relidionem, or recess of the sea. This doth, de jure commitni belong to the king ; ior, as the sea is parcell o! the wnst or demesne ; so, of necessity, the land tha* lies under it ; and therefore it belongs to the king when left by Ihe sea ; and so also it regularly holds in lands deserted by a river, that is an arm of the sea or a creek of the sea, prima facie, especially if the creek or river be part of a port.

Car. primi. upon an information against Oldswor'h and others, for that which is now called Sutton Marsh, that 300 acres of land was relic turn per mare, and that the defendants had intruded into it ; the delendants pleaded specially, and entitled themselves by prescription to the la^ds project by the sea; and upon a demurrer adjudged against them. That Is', by the prescription or title made to lauds project, which is jus ,d¿'*v:on‘ ⅛, no answer is given to the tille of information for lands relict, tor these were of several natures. 2. it was held, that it lies not in prescription to claim lands relict per mare; ior so if the channel between us and France should dry up, a man might prescribe for it, which is unreasonable ; tor

Nihil presemb ¡tur nisi qu< d possii ctur.

But this hath found some exceptions, besides these that follow in the ensuing chapter.

If a subject hath" had by proscription, the property of a certain tract, ox creek, or navigable river, or arm of the sea, even while it. is covered with water, by cettain known metes or extent ; this, though it should be relicted) the subject will have the propriety in the soil relicted. For he had it before, though covered with water ; and although the sea js a fluid, yet the ierraor solum subjcctum is fixed ; and by force of a clear and evident usage* a-subject may have the propriety of a private river ; though the acquest of the former be more difficult, and requires a very good evidence to make it out, as shall be said in the ensuing chapter.

lía subject hath land adjoining the sea, and the violence of the sea swallow it up, but so that yet there be reasonable marks to continue the notice of it ; or though the marks be defaced : yet if by situation and ex ent of quantity, and bounding upon ihe firm land, the same can be known, though the sea leave this land again, or it be by art or industry regained, the subject doth not lose his propriety ; and accordingly it was held by Cooke and Foster, M. 7. Jac. C. B. though the inundation continue forty years.

If the mark remain or coutinue, or extent can reasonably be certain, the case is clear.

3. The third sort of maratime increase are islands arising de novo in the king’s seas, or the king's arms thereof. These upon the same account and reason prima facie and of common right belong to the king ; lor they are part of that soil of the sea, that belonged before in point of propriety fo the king ; for when islands de novo arise, it is either by the recess or sinking of the water, or else by the exaggeration of sand and slubb, which in process of time, grow firm land environed with water ; and thus some places have arisen and their original recorded, as about Ranenstnd in Yorkshire.

And thus much of the king's right of propriety which he hath in the sea ; ami also prima facie aud in common presumption, in the ports and creeks and armes of the sea.

Mr» Butler In his note [205] to Co. Lit. 261, a, considers Ld. Hale as having exhausted the subject upon which he treats; and had this great man followed out his doctrine of private rivers, with its var>ous consequences and illustrations, as fully as he has done his doctrines of the sea and its arms, very little vould have been left for our courts to. do in filling up the outline. As his positions are,however, more general in respect to the for-sne--, while at the same time, they are of more extensive application, they have been oftner the subject of discussion in our courts ; and would seem to call for farther notice.

The general policy and excellence of his doctrines have been the most fully and ably vindicated in Connecticut and New-York. 44 A more perfect system of regulations on this subject,” (says Ch. J. Swift, 2 Con. Rep. N. S. 433,) ** could not be devised. It secures common right?, as far as the public interest requires; and furnishes a proper line of demarcation between them and private rights ” This doctrine, says fJosmer, J. 44 promotes the grand end< of civil society by pursuing that wise and orderly maxim of assigning to every thing capable of ownership, a legal and determinate owner.” These remarks are followed up and vindicated by Spencer, late \ h. Justice, in Hooker v. Cummings, (20 John. 101.)

The general distinctions, deemed of so much excellence and importance by ’hese learned judges ; and which, at this day no lawyer will hazard his reputation by controverting, are, that rivers not navigable, that is, fresh rivets, of what kind soever, do, of common right, belong to the owners of the soil adjacent, to the extent of heir land in length. i that rivers where the tide ebbs and flows belong of common right, to the state. That this ownership of the citizen is of the whole river, vis. the soil and the water of the river; except, that in his river where boats, rafts, Sec. may be floated to market, the public have a right of way or easement. In a special manner where the subject claims under a grant from the state, bounded by a river not navigable, this grant extend* usque filum aqua, ; as was held in Hayes's exr. v. Bowman. (1 Randolph's Rep. 420, per Cur.,) Claremont v. Carlton, (2 N. H Rep. 369, S. P.) and Lunt v. Holland, (14 Mass. Rep. 149.) This was also admitted by the attorney general, it will be recollected, in arguing the principal case, (ante, 534 )

The only question that can generally arise between the citizen and the state, as to the ownership of rivers above the tide, is, whether the former be owner of the soil adjacent, within the meaning of Hale.

As to this question ; there is certainly no technical or particular mode of expression in the grant, necessary to make him so. In the case of the river Banne, (Dav. 152) it is said, in every river not navigable, 44 the ierlenanis on each side have an interest of common rightand so is the abbreviation of that case in 2 Rol. Abr. 170, pl. 14, which was edited by Hale. By Holt, 12 Mod. 510,44 If a river run contiguously between the land of two persons, each of them is, of common right, owner of that part ot the river which i⅛ next his land.'* By Lord Mansfield, in Carter v. Murcot, (4 Burr 2164,) w In rivers nut navigable, the ‘proprietors of the land have the right offishery on their respective sides: and it generally extends ad filum medium aqua.9*

The proposition for thecititizen to establish, then, is that he is the own-cr, tertenant, or proprietor of the soil adjacent to the river above the tide; and then, of common right, he owns the river.

1. Owner tertenant or proprietor.] No doubt this may be either in fee or of any particular estate, of an equitable or legal estate ; and the ownership of the river shall be co-extensive in estate, as well as territory. This was held in the principal case, (ante, 516.)

2. Of the adjacent soil.] Adjacent, (in Lat. adjacens ah adjaceo,) is defined lying close, bordering upon. The Lat. verb means, to lie contiguous or border upon, to abut, adjoin. Thus an assize stated by Hale De Jur, Mar. ch. 1, Í3 “quia dicunt, quod omnes, qpi tenent terras abuttanteb super aquam ilium, in ea piscantur pro volúntale sua usque filum aquas.’* &c. This was of the IdelU a fresh water stream; and upon this there is no difference in the cases. All agree that where a man’s land abuts upon or adjoins to any river ab.ove tide water, he owns the river to ihe centre of the stream. As long ago as 1605, in Palmer v. Mulligan, it appearing that the defendant owned the shore of the Hudson as low down as Stillwater* this being above tide water, Thompson, J. and Kent, C. J. applied to his case the doctrine of Ld. Hale, that his ownership extended to the centre of that great river; and the latter then hinted at what is now established, that if the state will bound a grantee upon a river not navigable, he shall hold to the centre, unless there he an exception of the river in the grant. ( Vid* 3 Caines, 319.) In Adams v. Pease, (2 Con. Rep. N. S. 481.) the plaintiff owned a large farm bounded east on Connecticut river, above the flowiug of the tide ; but where it was large, and passable with flat bottomed boats of from 5 to 30 tons burthen; and sometimes vessels built above had been floated down ; yet held that the boundary, in terms, on the river* carried the pla niifí’s ownership of th,e river to its centre. The rule is there laid down by Swift, Ch. J. that the adjoining proprietors have this right. The doctrine of this case was approved in its full extent, by the supreme court of this state, in Hooper v. Cummings, (20 John. 91) where it was applied to Salmon river which empties into lake Ontario. Spencer, Ch. J. who delivered the opinion of the court, says, “ If the soil on both sides be owned by an individual, he has the sole and exclusive right ; but if there be different proprietors on each side, they own their respective sides, ad fi-lum medium aqutzfi And the court approved what Kent, C. J. said in Palmer v. Mulligan, touching the Hudson being private property as low down as Stillwater. They also show that the cases which hold the contrary in Pennsylvania are founded on a repudiation of the common law. (Vid. also 17 John.Q09, 10, &c.) In Arnold v. Mundy, (1 Halst. N. J. Rep. 1) the plaintiff’s land ran to, or was bounded on a river where the tide did ebb and flow ; and he and those under whom he claimed, had staked off and planted a bed of oyster^, some of which the defendant took away ; for which the action was brought. At the trial, the defendant’s counsel moved for a nonsuit; and the judge in giving his opinion remarked, (id. p. 10) “that a grant of land to a subject or citizen, bounded upon afresh water stream or nUi\ where the tide neither ebbs nor flows, extends to the middle of the channel of such river; but that a grant bounded upon a navigable river, or other water, where the tide does ebb or flow, extends to the edge of the water only, that is to say, to high water mark, when the tide is high, and to low water mark when the tide is low ; but it extends no farther and he nonsuited the plaintiff upon this distinction. On a motion to set aside the nonsuit, the supreme court, after a very learned argument, confirmed the distinction ; and refused to set aside the nonsuit. The Reporter, in his marginal note, has set down this as one resolution of the court: “ A grant of land bounded upon a fresh walev stream or river, where the tide neither ebbs nor flows, extends ad Jilum aquee ; but a grant bounded upon a navigable river extends to the edge of the water only.” In Claremont v. Carlton, (2 N. H, Rep. 369,) lot no. 46 was admitted, at the trial, to be bounded south on Sugar river, above tide water ; and an island lying on the north side of the river wa9 held to pass by the grant, which was by the government of New-Hampshire. The river and island were held to pass upon the principles adopted by lord Hale, whose doctrine is recited at length and approved by the court. In Hayes's exr. v. Bowman, (1 Randolph’s Rep. 417,) the words of the grant wer^, ‘‘lying on the west side of south river, and bounded by the same.” This was where the tide did not flow. The court say, “ where the commonwealth, having title to lands lying on both sides of a watercourse not navigable, grants the lands lying on one side thereof, and bounded thereby, it is unir* versally admitted that such grant carries with it the title to a moiety of the watercourse. There can be no reason assigned why this rule, so just in relation to grants by the commonwealth, should not equally apply to conveyances by individuals.” And they held that a moiety of the bed of the stream passed, in the ca$e of King v. King, (6 Mass. Rep. 496,) it appeared that Benjamin King was seized of two tracts of land, opposite to each other, on the east and west sides of Sheepscut river, and adjoining thereto, conveyed to him by boundary lines which included aparto/the river where it passed over falls and formed a site for mills. And it was held that even this specific boundary could have no effect in excluding the remainder of the river. The court say,4⅜ Benjamin King was entitled to two tracts of land, situate on the east and west sides of Sheepscut river, described and conveyed to him by boundary lines which include a part of the river *, and of course, by the legal operation of his title, the falls and bed of the river, with all permanent water priveleges, wherever the river flowed between the tracts of land conveyed, or covering any part thereof.” (id. 498.) King having died so seised, his heirs made partition by deeds, the import of which was an assignment of two parcels on the western side to bis son Moses ; and of that on the eastern side to his son Peter. The court say, u the legal operation of this partition and assignment is, that the falls and bed of the river, and the water privileges were alike divided and assigned, as parcel of the two tracts ; which, after the partition, were to be considered as separated, so far as they lie opposite to each other upon the viver, by a central line, or the thread of the river, as it is sometimes expressed.” This was evidently decided as will be seen by the conclusion of the sentence, on the authority of Hale's doctrine, though he is not formally cited. In Jackson v. Louw, (12 John. 252,) the line ran south lo the Platte-kill, above tide water : thence up the same, to the sou'hwest corner of a lot this day conveyed to the $a.id Ab-aham Louw jun’r. The court say, (p. 255,) “the terms 4 up the same,9 necessarily imply that it is tofobow the creek, according to its windings and turnings ; and that must be in ihe middle or centre of it. The rule is well settled, that when a creek, not navigable* and which is beyond the ebb and flow of die tide, >ortns a boundary, the line must be so run ” In Lunt v. Holland, (14 Mass. Rep. 149,) the plaintiff derived title from a grant of ihccommonwe'dth, thus : 44 A certain trad ofland lying in the township numbered one, in the county of Cam-be land, which was surveyed and laid out in April. 1789, by Samuel Tit-comb and is hounded as >ollows, to wit. beginning at a hemlock tree stand* ing bo fh* south side of the river An trosroggm, thence south, &c to another heimock tree also standing by said river, thence south-east wardly, and bound.n- by said river to the first mentioned hound,” S¿c. The plaintiff ohiimed an island of 30 a< res, the river running each side of it. lying between ho two bemioek trees, and nearest ihe shore of the plaintiff's grant. One question was, whether, as TUcomb's survey included he island, it did no: pass to the plaint iff or that eason, the survey being referred to by the grant ; and the court held that it did. But another question directly raised and passed upon was, whether the boundary by the two hemlock trees, one mentioned as standing on the south side of the. river, and the other as standing by the river, would not in construction of law, extend into the oenue of the stream on the side of the island faríhest rom the line running between the two (ree3, Fessenden, for the defendant, upon this point, contended, that the island was excluded by visible and known monuments. u Bmin-iing by the rive¡,” must intend that edge of the river on which the hemlock trees stood ; or those trees could not be any part of the boundary. The judge, at the trial, charged that “ land granted as bounded by a river, is held lo extend to the thread or channel of the river; and as here were lo channels, it might well be presumed the intent of the parties to the conveyance, that the grant was intended to extend to that channel which would include the island.” The court, in delivering their opinion at ar, say, 4⅜ tand granted as bounded by a river, extends to the thread of the river, unless from prior grants on the other side of the river, such a construction is negatived ; and in this case, the channel on the farther side of the island may well be considered as intended by ihe description in this grant.” This case was very strong for the state. The line along the river was limited nominally to two trees on the same side of the stream. One oftiV'se trees might not have touched the river at all. Yet upon the principles of Hale, these marks are de carted from, he river itself adopted as the boundary; and the line extended over, and made to include an island lyingon the side of the river nearest to it. We have before seen that this very point was adiudged in Claremont v. Carlton, (2 N. H. Rep. 369,) upon a boundary which was ia ter ns on the river. But there were no definite monuments lo restrain and bind it down to the margin of the stream* Lunt v. Holland, decides that a line running between two trees, one standing ⅛ !he s*de °f the other by the river, is a bound ng or abutting on ihe river ; tha1 the grantee is, therefore, an adjacent owner, and his land expends, of common right, usquejiium aquce. In Harramond v. McGlaughan, (Tayl. Rep. 195,) it appears that a somewhat similar question arose in the superior court of law o: North Carolina, in 1798» About 50 years before, the state had granted to the ueendant, by patent, a ti act of land beginning ata hickory, standing not far from a river ; and running thence down the river a certain course and distance ; but the course ran odliqu.ely from the river, leaving between it and the river a triang dar piece o! land. The state claimed this triangle, and in 1787, granted it by patent to the plaindff. who brought ejectment. The court held that the river was the boundnrv of the first grant ; and decided against the claim of the state. They say, “ when a deed, patent or grant, describes a boundary from a certain point down a river, creek, or the ¿ike, mentioning also course and distance ; should the latter be found not to agree with the course of die river, creek, &c. it ought to be disregarded, and the river considered the true boundary.’’ The expressions used to designate the boundaries and extent of grants u> on the Missisippi are, tanl d'arperds de face, or tant o'arpents face au Jleuve, or iant ci'arpenls face sur le Jleuve ; and these ex: ressions, when thus unqualified, have, without a single exception, been considered as giving the grantee a boundary on the river. (5 Holl's Law Journal, 120) Did the common, instead or the civil law apply lo the Missisippi, no doubt such grants would give title to its bed usqueJi am aquce. As to a boundary on the margin of a creek or river, as stated of that in the principle case, (ante, 518) it >eems to be the Yery dividing line between the water and the land, the line touching both. It is synonymous with shore, which Parsons, Ch. J.says, in Storer v. Freeman, (6 hass. Rep. 439.) when applied to the sea,u must be understood to mean, the margin oi the sea in its usual and ordinary state. Thus, when the tide is out, low water mark is the margin of the sea ; and when the sea is full, the margin is high water mark ” In analogy, to the margin of the sea, it would seem that the margin of a fresh water river or creek must be the ordinary water mark. 4‘ The shores of a river border on the water’s edge.” (5 Wheat. 385.) And then it would be more than splitting hairs ; it would be splitting mathematical lines, to separate the boun* dary from the river. According to this definition, the relators were literally and mathematically adjac- nt owners within H e's doctrine. In Storer v. Freeman, (id. 438,) one boundary was to the shore oi‘ the neck ; thence by the shore of the neck; another was to a heap of stones at the sh rt of the neck, at W. E's c»mrT so called, thence by ihe shore, &c. This was where the tide ebbs and flows; and Parsons, Ch. J seems to take it for granted, that such boundaries, if upon a stream above tide water, would have carried the ownership, usque flum aquce, as being a boundary on ihe water. He accordingly goes on to draw a distinction between the two ca« ses He says,44 by the common law of England, which our ancestors brought with them, claiming it as their birth-right, the owner of land bouuded oa a fresh water river, owned the land to the centre of the chan-iael of the river, as of common right; but, if his land was bounded on the sea, or an arm of the sea, where the tide ebbed and flowed, he could not, by such boundary, hold any land below the ordinary low water mark, for all the land below belonged, of common right, to the king.”

Thus explore the books of the common law, wherever that law prevails : And in no casé as between sovereign and subject, except the principal one, has it ever been questioned, that where a grant, either actually or con-constructively, goes to the water’s edge, the grantee is the owner to the cen-tre of the river, if it be above tide water. Lastly, he is the owner

Of common right.} It will be remembered that this phrase continually occurs in Hale, and in the decisions which follow' him. it is an important,an emphatic part oí the proposition with which we set out; and has been defined, in its general sense, by the greatest writer in the law *, and by one very little his inferior, as to the particular sense inwhich it is used by Hale. First, I quote from Lord Coke, who explains its use by Littleton. (Co. Lit. 142. a.) “ ‘ De common droit,5 of common right; that is, by the common law ; so called, because the common law is the best and most common birth ' right that the subject hath, for the safe guard and defence, not onely of his goods, lands and revenues, but of his wife and children, his body, fame and life also. So as the meaning of Littleton in this particular'case is, that the lord may distreine for his rent of common right, that is, by the common law, without any particular reservation or provision of the party. And ifc is to be observed that the common law of England sometimes is called right, sometimes common right, and sometimes communis jusiitia. Litteion, in this his treatise, nameth common droit sixe times.’5 Thus, within the sense given by Lord Coke, the party whose grant boandshim by any words on a river, or its margin above tide water, owns of course, without any express provision in the grant usque filum aqua. The right is incident and annexed by law to his grant, the same as a right of distress to a rent service of which Lord Coke is speaking. In the notes to Co. Lit. by Hargrave & Butler, the latter, (note 205 top. 201. a.) speaking of Hale De Jur Mar, says, “ Thai where, in enquiries of this kind, it is said that a person is entitled to the right, or property in question, by common right, but that it may belong to another, it is intended to say, that the right or property in question is, by the common law annexed to the particular capacity of the party» or t" some property of which he is the owner ; yet that it is not so inseparably or inalienably annexed to this capacity or ownership, but that the party may transfer it to another.”

Thus where one owns the shore of a river above tide* by grant from the 3tate ; the common law (common right) annexes to his capacity as owner, the right of soil in the river usque Jilum aqua. And it has often been said by our courts, that the only way in which this right of soil in the river ca» be withheld from ¡he subject, is by a reservation express or implied. This doctrine as I before remarked (ante, 544*) was hinted by the sagacious Kent, the chief justice of the supreme court, in Palmer v. Mulligan, (3 Caines, 319.) And it was afterwards directly advanced by the court in Claremont v. Carlton, (2 N. H. Rep. 371, 372.) It is there said this exception may be by the actf of the parties, or an express provision in their conveyances, So in Hayes's exrr. Bowman, (1 Randolph, 420, cited ante, 545,) the court say, “ If it be the wish of the grantor not to couvey the bed of the stream, or of any part thereof, it is easy for him to exclude it, by the use of words proper for that purpose. In the absence of such words, the moiety of the bed of the stream passes by such conveyance.” So in the principal case, (ante, 528,) the supremeoourt lay down the same doctrine. And all the various expressions running through the books and cases, such as of common right, by operation of law, or by construction of law% mean the same thing ; that the law carries the owner of the bank to the centre, unless otherwise expressed; and then expres&umfácil cessare taciturn. An exception may sometimes be implied, as where the river, or an island in the river, was previously granted. (14 Mass. Rep. 151.) Thus in Hatch v. Dwight, (17 Mass. Rep. 289,) E., in 1807, mortgaged a strip of land including mills, and running a considerable distance along a river; but in 1810, having sold a small piece of the mortgaged premises, for a hide mill and lime vats, he obtained a grant, or rather release from the mortgagee, for a nominal consideration, of what he (E ) had sold ; described thus: beginning at the end of a dam ; running up the river two rods, and so round, to the bank of the river. The mortgagee afterwards having foreclosed, one question was, whether the grant or release gave a right to the centre of the river ; and it appeared that if it was to have this effect, it woald destroy the value of the mortgagee’s mill privileges. For this, and other reasons, it was held that it should not extend beyond the bank. The various reasons assigned by the court were, that the grant or release was limited to the bank ; that there were no general words shewing that a right to keep up a dam, was intended to pass ; that the consideration was nominal; and it was not to be inferred that the mortgagee intended to release every thing valuable in the mortgaged premises, for which she had given a large consideration. The court considered the release, under all the circumstances, as being no more than a mere exception in the mortgage. There were various and special circumstances in the case, which led the court to infer that the parties intended to limit the release or grant to the bank. And in conclusion they say, “ Without doubt, by our law, the owner ofland extending to the bank of a river, will own to the middle of the river, if it be not navigable, and so public property. But the owner may sell the land without the privilege of th« stream, as he will, if he bounds his grant by the bank” They continue, “ the description in the release very clearly excludes any part of the stream ; and as before observed, there are no general words of a more extensive signification.” This case was between individuals, and must undoubtedly be referred to its peculiar circumstances. The court admit that an owner to the bank of a river* owns the river ; but immediately say that he may bound his grant by the bank, and the stream will not pass. This must evidently mean a bounding by reservation, or plain exclusion express or implied. Otherwise the expression would be inconsistent in itself, and incompatible with all principle «and all the cases. It is plain that the naked circumstance of bounding a grant on, to or by a bank, cannot exclude the stream, any more than bounding on the margin of the stream itself; and this the court admit; for certainly, owning “ to a bank,” is no more than owning on or by a bank. It is farther evident that this case floes noj rest on the particular words of the release, from the circumstance» that the reporter has not mentioned in his marginal note or index, any point as being settled or countenanced by this branch of the ease. He doubtless looked upon it as a case entirely smgentris. in this respect; and as depending on numerous circumstances, which might never again conspire. Indeed, it is not readily perceivable how the case can, in this branch of it, ever be a guide for any other. Another singular circumstance is, that the court should rely on Storer v. Freeman, (6 Mass. Rep. 435,) tor the only general doctrine which they appear to lay down. The question presented by that ease was, as to the extent of a grant bounded upon the seashore. In the case of a river not navigable, every possible intendment is in favor of the grant going to the centre; whereas, in case of the sea, the intendment is directly otherwise. Jackson v. Halstead, (5 Cowen, 216,) was also a question between individuals It was conceded that the Delaware was private property ; but, as remarked by the learned counsellor the relators in the principal case, (ante, 531,) the question was not raised as to the constructive extent of the grant. Probably it could not arise. Palmer, the common source .of title, owned the whole river; and in hia grant, so far as it related to the river, had used words which would convey a mere right of fishery ; and nothing more. It would have been subverting the express intention of the parties, to have allowed the usual constructive operation to the grant. It was the same thing in respect to the river as if the grantor had retained both shores, and granted in terms a mere fishery within the water. Had the grantor s' opped at the words which bounded the grantee upon the river, beyond all doubt the soil would have passed usque filum aquas; (12 John. 252; 1 Randolph, 417; 2 Con. Rep. N. S. 481; Tayl. 196;) and so would the island, bad it lain on the grantee’s side of the stream. (2 N. H. Rep. 369. 14 Mass. Rep. 140.) It was not thought worth while, even to inquire which side of the river the island lay. The decision turned wholly on the legal effect of granting a river by its name

l am sensible that I owe the profession au apology for the length of this discussion, and its verba! and minute criticisms. But the amount involved is neither verbal nor minute. It was stated by the counsel of the appraisers, (ante, 523,) to be $¡00,000, on the line of the canals alone. Take the whole state with its ilrmense inland waters ; and it gives an aggregate of millions. Probably there is hardly a patent in the state which grants the bed of a stream by name. I am. informed that our patents have generally selected these streams as the best and most convenient limits fur their g.ants, and are abutted or bounded upon them by different words ; leaving it to the common law to say what portion of the stream passes, accordingly as the boundary may be above or below tide water. Our considerable rivers and creeks are covered with hydraulic machinery, and other establishments, depending for their value and their existence on the doctrine that these patents carry the ownership of the grantees to the thread of the stream. What more usual description of parcels than a line running to a given point on a creek or river ; and then along the same as it winds and turns, for many miles? It is speaking within bounds, to say that, adopting the construction contended for by the appraisers, would sub» vert individual claims to millions of property, the private ownership in Which, has never belore been doubled. The prerogatives of the state, set up by the appraisers, are not limited by a criticism upon the word margin, as in the case of the Chilteningo. They claim as public property, every stream above tide water where a raft or a small boat can be navigated, unless that stream has been granted in terms by the state. They claim not merely a right of passage or highway for the people : that is conceded by the common law ; but a right of soil in the state. Several instances of this kind have occurred.

Ex parte Geo. Tibbits, Oct. term, 1826.

In this case it appeared that a valuable waterfall of 12 feet,in the middle sprout of the Mohawk, which falls into the Hudson between Van Sehaick and Greene islands, had been destroyed by a dam erected for the use of the canals. That the tide never eb is and flows at the fall. This fall was granted, in terms, as so much land covered with water, May 5, 1792, by Stephen Van Rensselaer to Jacobus Van Schoonhoven ; and had come by mesne conveyances to the relator ; there being an actual individual seisin of the fall eo nomine for upwards of 30 years. It ts well known that the land on both sides of the fall was granted away at a very early period by the state, which had not afterwards asserted the least claim.

The appraisers refused to allow the relator any damages, on the sole ground that the land under water belonged to the state.

The supreme court granted an alternative mandamus, in this case, against the appraisers,at the time they decided Jenning's case,

J. P. Cushman for the relator.

The following case came under the review of the supreme court, on appeal from an appraisal by the canal commissioners. Itrelatecfto a valuable landing or depot for lumber on the river Hudson, which was inundated and destroyed by the colossal dam at Fort Edward :

Ex parte Walter and Charles Rogers. Utica, August term, I82S.

The affidavit of one of the owners stated, that 21 acres at Dtadman's point, above the dam, and lying adjacent to the Hudson river, had for many years before the erection of the dam, been used as a landing ground for lumber, yielding an average income to the two proprietors, (to whom it had been devised by their ancestor,) of about 400 dollars annually. That it had been rendered nearly useless as a lauding, from the time when the canal commissioners commenced the dam at Fort Edward, Cor a feeder to the northern canal, in the summer of 1821 ; and when the dam was completed in the summer of 1822, the landing was inundated, and the buildings removed. That the canal commissioners, Messrs. Young and Sey-msur, had appraised the damages in March, 1825, at only 630 dollars. And they informed the deponent, “ that theyjestimated the land inundated, for the purposs of Ullage, without reference to its value as a landing ground, at. 30 dollars per acre.” That the value of the land censisted almest e»* firely of its advantages as a lumberyard, which were destroyed by the dam. It appeared that a copy of this affidavit and notice of the appeal had been served on Mr. Young, who did not controvert the truth of the affidavit.

On motion to set aside this appraisal, the single -point staled, (andil was stated and discussed in writing,) was, that the commissioners should have allowed the value of the premises destroyed asa landing# It was argued that this was its value to the owners; this would have fixed the price in market, which would obviously have been about $fjQ(X>, instead of $630# The latter was but little more than the income for a single year. The motion was not opposed by the commissioners; but the court, as was their course on all appeals from these appraisals, took the papers, examined the question, and set aside the appraisal ; deciding that it should have been according to the value as a landing ground,

I was afterwards informed by Mr. Youngs that be had acted in awarding such small damages, on the principle that the soil of the Hudson at the place in question, though far above tide water, belonged to the state#

With deference, this was evidently adopting a new rule, unknown to the common law. It was not only adopting a new rule ; but it was carrying that rule, in its application, one step farther than it ever can be carried» Admitting the more despotic rule of the civil law : “ Flumina autem omnia, el porlus, publica sunt ; ideoque jus piscandi omnibus commune cst in porlu fluminibusque (Just. Lib. 2, tit. 1, s 2;) the conclusion drawn by the canal commissioners, would, by no means, follow. The common law, so applied, would authorise them, in the prosecution of their splendid works, to cut up or inundate the valuable lumber yards at Troy, Albany or New-York, and then to pay, instead of their value as lying on a public stream, the price which they would fetch in market, as wheat fields, meadows, Ac. according to their agricultura1 value. Their value arises from their local situation and advantages, their worth in market; and the revenues derivable from them are to be taken into the account. (The Schuylkill Navigation Co. v. Thoburn, 7 Serg. & Rawle, 411. 1 Domat, 431, Of the restitution of fruits, 1, 2, 3.) The state is bound to make restitution upon the same principle as an individual, who should commit the injury. (1 Bl. Com. 141, 2.) This is so even in more despotic countries ; (2 Montesq. L'Esp. de Lois, ch. 15;) and the maxim, sic utere tuo ui alienum non laidas, applies with equal force to both. I do not, therefore, think that the decision of the supreme court, necessarily involved the question, whether tbe civil or common law should prevail. I do not believe they stopped to inquire whether the Hudson was a public or private river at the place in question. Such a point was not presented by the, affidavit. This did not state whether the place was above or below tide water ; nor was the point raised in argument. It is evident, therefore» that the court held the result to be the same, upon both the civil and. common law.

On the case coming before the present appraisers, the. question whether the Hudson, at the landing, was private property, was again raised, as will be seen by the case which they drew up, with a copy of which I have been favored. It is in these words :

la the matter of Charles & Walter Rogers.

u They claim title to a tract of laud lying within the bounds of the Kay-oiderosseras patent, which w is granted on the 2d 1708 ; bounded as foilows : fc thence easterly or northe rly to the third falls on Albany river,’ [Baker's Falls on the Hudson. 1 John. 156.] ⅛ about 20 miles, more or less ; thence along the said river, down southerly, to the northeasterly bounds of Saratoga&c.

About 21 acres of that tract lie on the west margin of the Hudson river, and about 1-2 a mile above the dam at Fort Edward. A part of the tract, before the dam was built, was used as a place on which to deposit lumber, for the purpose of rafting and floating it down the river ; and which produced an annual revenue to the claimants, as they allege, of $400 or $500 » but which, since that dam was built, is rendered totally useless for that purpose; the dam having destroyed the navigation of the river to that place, and covered the land with water about 27 feet deep.

The place in question is about 40 miles above tide water ; and much farther above where the water becomes fresh. There is no natural and continued navigation up the river to the land which is the subject of this claim.

On the 15th April, 1771, 62 years after the gram, of the Kayaderosseras patent, the Britisn government made a grant to Henry Stilson, the subject of which is described as toiiows : ⅜ All that certain tract of land, ground and soil, under and covered with the water of Hudson's river, in the county. of Albany^ within our province of New- York ; beginning on the west bank of the said river, at the division Une between lot No. 7 and lot No. 8, in the 19th allotment of the Kayaderosseras patent; and runs tnence into the river, east 3 chains, then parallel to the said bank of the said river, at 3 chains distance, south 13 degrees east, 1 chain and 60 Jinks, and south 30 degrees east, 5 chains and 60 links, then west 3 chains and 65 links to the bank of the river ; and then along the said bank, as the same doth wind and turn, northward to the place oi beginning, containing 2 acres ; together with all and singular, the benefits, liberties, privileges, waters, watercourses, mills, mill dams, easements, emoluments, tenements and here-ditaments whatsoever,’ &c. [Book of Military Patents, No. 2, p. 379, 590.]

The questions are, 1. Are the claimants entitled to the value of this land, according to its increased value by means of the use and unobstructed navigation of the river, as it was before the dam was built; or are they only entitled to its value for agricultural purposes ?

2. Are the claimants entitled to pay for their fishery, which has been destroyed by the dam

Now, there is no doubt, upon the cases before cited, that the boundary “ to the falls, and thence along the river down southerly,” &c. to which the 21 acres in question extend, will, per se, carry the right of soil in the claimants to the thread of the Hudson. (12 John. 252, 255. 14 Mass. Rep. 149, 2 Con. Rep. N. S. 481. 2 N. H. Hep. 369.) Of course, the exclusive right of fishing goes to the same extent. (20 John. 90.)

The only argument against this construction is the little 2 acre military patent to Stilson. Now, had this been granted before the Kayadorosseras patent issued, and had it been a part of the identical bed of the river covered by the 21 acres, it must be admitted that, within what the court say in Lunt v. Holland, (14 Mass. Rep. 151) it would have operated as an exception from ihe Kayaderosscr s patent, pro tanto But clearly not, being as it is, subsequent to ihe issuing oí the Kry deroxser ¡.s patent. The very point was adjudged in Harramond v. McGaughon, (Tayl. Rep, 196.) This Utile river paten! lies 8 or 10 miles below the 21 acre». It was a void grant. The very two acres had before passed by the great patent of Kayaderosseras; and so far from being an argument of co-temporane ous construction, this little thing could not have sustained itself upon its own ground, had it been attacked in season by the patentees of the Kayaderosseras.

It will be seen, by the above sketches, that the board of canal appraisal, and the regular and ordinary tribunals of the country, have, in their respective adjudications upon the right annexed to riparian ownership, begun at different points. The former, in effect, have begun at the civil law; the latter at the common law. And even when both have assumed the civil law as the starting point, they have diverged to directly opposite conclusions. The rules which the former.have deemed it their duty to adopt, are most unfavorable to the rights of private property. Those by which our courts of justice have been guided, are more favorable, because dictated by the benign spirit of the common law. If the former be right, a large sum of individual suffering and ruin must be the consequence. With the utmost deference to that very able and respectable board, we mu9t be permitted to doubt the soundness of their legal positions, when we see them overruled by the decisions of the high superintending jurisdictions of our country ; and especially when we see those decisions so plainly supported by the sainted doctrines of ,.a Hale, a Holt and a Mansfield.